NEWSLETTER
We will probably never get a clearer picture of what has gone on with Kris Bryant over the past five days than we already have, but, upon returning to the lineup today (YES!) for the first time after being hit in the head with a 96 mph fastball on Sunday, Bryant spoke to the media about his time away.
Among his comments:
https://twitter.com/CarrieMuskat/status/990253430223622146
Bryant: "Any time you feel like you can't get out of the way of a ball, you kinda feel helpless. That was how I felt. It was gonna hit me one way or the other. … Could've been a lot worse. Feeling pretty thankful that I was only out four games."
— Cubs Talk (@NBCSCubs) April 28, 2018
Kris Bryant: "It's making sure that I get to see my kids grow up and stuff like that, because any time you're talking about your brain, a lot can go wrong if it happens again. I was just listening to the team doctor."
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) April 28, 2018
Kris Bryant: "I needed to take it seriously and not try to go out there and be Mr. Tough Man and play. You get hit again and you never know what happens. Our training staff and our doctors handled it really well. As frustrating as it can be…it's really the smart thing to do."
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) April 28, 2018
Bryant: “It kind of puts things in perspective. Everyone wants to get hits, RBIs, & feel good about themselves, but when something like that happens you take a step back & realize this game can be taken from you very quick.”
— Kelly Crull (@Kelly_Crull) April 28, 2018
Bryant does not want to get into the nitty gritty, and that is entirely his prerogative. I think fans and media have “a right” to know about injuries generally, inasmuch as they impact roster moves and lineups and the like, but when it comes to the precise particulars of a potential brain injury and how that impacts the way you think about your life … eh, I think Bryant said plenty.
Even if the way it played out with the messaging was odd, maybe we can just say that this wound up looking almost exactly as you would have expected – or even hoped! – as of Sunday. Bryant was not concussed (or not severely concussed), but nevertheless took extra time to rest, get his bearings, and most importantly, make sure that he was physically and mentally ready to get back in the box, where anything can happen. The impact of a severe blow to the head is bad enough, but if – God forbid – another would happen in quick succession before there was total healing? It could be devastating.
Good on Bryant and the Cubs and their doctors for taking extra caution in this situation, and thank goodness he’s back. May he stand in there confidently today, crush just a few dingers, and all will be well.
Ahhhhhh ….. pic.twitter.com/JcWra4uaaL
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) April 28, 2018
